We carried on with the Ken Russell retrospective last night first with The Music Lovers (1970).
To describe it as an historically shaky Tchaikovsky biopic is a bit like calling Close Encounters Of The Third Kind a film about a trip to Wyoming.
It explodes with energy and colour and writhes and swirls like a ballet dancer.
Richard Chamberlain's career was haunted by soap typecasting, he proves himself in this film capable of a lot more than he got the opportunity to achieve.
Ken's usual troop are on form, Glenda Jackson's character arc moves through the seasons from Spring to Winter, her on screen trials illustrated with amazing production design.
Five Cannon Balls.
Next up was a mood shift into nostalgic lightheartedness with The Boy Friend (1971).
Like The Music Lovers there's more to it than a synopsis can convey. It's a joyful film (probably the only Ken Russell feature you would be comfortable watching with the whole family). The ghost of Busby Berkeley haunts the film in a Casper sense and it's a very giddy making view.
It's one film I wouldn't mind getting the retrofitted 3D treatment because it is so extremely vibrant and trippy that more of the same could do no harm.
Ken's playful sense of humour is on display here, the cast are on top form too.
Five legs in plaster.